Digital Cameras revisited

[thegig]

Maybe it would be a good thing to have a page like DVD Players or Capture cards for Cameras, or even forum topic. But.... the latest discussion on cameras (that I could see) with some good info was back in October. I know that new models have been out since then. What camera (as of now) is the best. I know that's pretty subjective, but heck it's a forum . Some things I am interested in are VHS transfer, resolution/speed, zoom, ease of use, any thing else that maybe I don't know. Like to keep it with current technology, not really too interested in digital 8.

[Brpod]

Always Buy Sony - DV Cams especially TRV27 is great

[thegig]

I've noticed Sony seems to be a pretty good choice. Any of their cameras (mini-dv) from dcr-trv33 to current products have alot of the same features. Except for some that implement BlueTooth. I don'y know much about bluetooth or if it is really a "feature" that I need or want. I am not sure exactly what the benefits would be, except lack of cabling. The only other camera I hear about is JVC GR-DVL820U. But I haven't heard anything lately. I'm kinda swaying to the DCR-TRV70, unless someone can sway me somewhere else. How can I tell if it has pass through?

[StudeBarc]

Thegig,
AFAIK the JVC DVL 820 has the pass through ability for firewire to PC. I believe it is the base model allowing this. The next model up is the 1020 which has same optics/CCD and the addition of Webcam etc (woo-hoo). For me the GR-DV3000 is the unit i've had and used for the last 16 months. I've found this to be an excellent single CCD camera with a very bright f1.2 lens and a 1.33 mega pixel CCD. This allows approx 540 lines of horizontal resolution (at least the PAL version does) providing clean and sharp pictures, and excellent low light performance. For my 2 cents JVC have an excellent name in cameras and don't seem to so stuck with size reduction as Sony is ie MicroDV. It's up to you but I would look hard at the JVC as a very functional unit.

Regards
Studebarc.

[hoyboy]

Just a thought on digital video cameras- I am using a Sony DCRTRV340 D8 camera for analogue to digital processing via firewire. You mentioned that you are not really interested in D8 but it has done a really good job for me in the last 9 months- If you really want to go MiniDV or higher, what you need to look at is a camera with a good quality lenses i.e carl zeiss etc(although most camera makers are not known for putting inferior quality lenses in their cameras). The next thing you should look at is if the camera has some sort of memory stick slot, where you can store still photos and mpeg movies to send over the internet. The next important thing to consider is a hot shoe accessory,(or intelligent shoe accessory). That is something to consider if you plan to get semi-serious later, as you can add infra-red extenders, lights,flashes,microphones etc. Not essential but nice to have. The last thing to consider is that the smaller the camera, the smaller the lenses and so the less the optical zoom. My Camera has 25X optical zoom wheras most mini-dv cameras have about 10X- something to think about anyway. By the way, if the camera has a LANC jack it means you can use it in an underwater housing(if you can afford it-not cheap at all especially sony)

just some thoughts on the matter

[Jester700]

One BIG thing. If you're serious, get a 3-chip camera. No joke. It will be bigger & heavier, but the quality will be better and you are assured of decent optics (nobody's going to put crap lenses in a $2000 3 chip cam).

[thegig]

3-chip camera? Please expand.

Haven't bought anything yet. As far as d8 vs MiniDV. The real only reason I am straying away is d8 is going away and MiniDV seems pretty universal. But, I won't sneeze in the face of a good deal 8) , if I find one! But, it needs to be a pretty good deal with some good extras.

[Jester700]

3-chip camera? Please expand.

Haven't bought anything yet. As far as d8 vs MiniDV. The real only reason I am straying away is d8 is going away and MiniDV seems pretty universal. But, I won't sneeze in the face of a good deal 8) , if I find one! But, it needs to be a pretty good deal with some good extras.

AFAIK, D8 isn't going away anytime soon. And even if new models cease to be introduced, the media will be available for a long time. There may be more DV cams sold than D8, but there are MANY more 8mm devices "out there" - Video8, Hi8, and D8 cams & VCRs, and 8mm computer backup drives. And D8 cams can use ALL these media.

A 3 chip cam uses a prism to split the incoming light into 3 beams, and a seperate CCD senses each one. This allows better color fidelity, better low light performance, and better resolution. You pay in size, weight, and cost. The best semi pro cams - Sony VX2000, Canon GL1, etc - are 3 chip designs. Pro cams are by definition.

[thegig]

I appreciate the response. What I meant to say was that most Camcorders (I've seen lately) coming out are swaying from D8. I agree 8mm will be around for awhile. But some of the newest technology is more oriented towards MiniDV, and that's kinda where I am going. Is it beneficial to buy the newer technologies? They seem to make things better as they go along. But as they do that , older features are lost. The older posts were pretty much in favor (70%) of D8. But as they progressed people are having different takes.

[VinnySem]

Remember, that's just the media - picture quality will depend on optics, not the storage. Seems to me, the reason the percieved change from D8 to mDV is a media size issue more than anything. miniDV tapes are smaller than 8mm, thereby enabling smaller cameras.I dunno about anyone else here, but I like a nice meaty component in my hand

[Jester700]

IMO you have to compare the merits (& cost) of individual cams. I like a meaty cam too, so I like my TRV120 D8. But those who want a "pocket cam" will certainly want a DV. Once you get into the 3 chip world with its bigger lenses & more complicated optics, you can't GET a pocket cam. But you'll have to go DV; they don't make a D8 at that level (though they certainly could).

When I got my 120 it was the best buy for me - for $700 it had analog passthru, good low light performance, and a good feel. A few months later you could get it for $500 and IMO you'd be silly to even LOOK at anything else in that price range. But now the tapes load on the bottom, the lower models don't have analog passthru, and they use smaller CCDs (worse low light performance). Plus, DV prices have been dropping. So I dunno if I'd get another D8; I'd have to research more. My next buy will be a 3 chipper anyway.

[thegig]

Thanks for the info. I think I might go the 3chip route too. Sounds like the optics are definately better. Now to find one that has passthrough, so I can kill two birds with one stone. I'm starting to be swayed to say media storage isn't the issue.

[willie1]

If I could afford what I want, I would buy a Canon GL2 or XLS. Since I can't afford these I bought a Canon ZR60. It is a single chip cam but has a nice feature set at its price. It is one of the few cams that can import an analogue source in its price range and allow capture to HD via firewire. Read specs or magazine reviews prior to purchase. One of the misleading specs is the total n# of pixels the chip will recognize. These are often only for still images. The # to look at is video effective pixels, the # used while filming. In a 3ccd camera the # is usually lower per ccd but greater overall. Size becomes less of a concern when you use a tripod- very highly recommended. I have 3 different ones used for different situations.